We know it’s not easy to keep up with everything that happens in the world of trucking. So here are the biggest stories from December focused on the latest truck trends, all in one place.

5. FE test drives the Ford F650 with a V10 gas engine

The claim to Ford’s medium-duty fame has always been its hard-working dependability and durability. For 2016, the F650 sports a second-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine; that’s no surprise. What may come as a surprise is the growing popularity of the gas engine option. A 6.8-liter V10 gas engine is now available for both the F650 and F750.

Fleet Equipment Editor Jason Morgan had the chance to get behind the wheel and put the gas engine’s pedal to the metal in this episode of On the Road.

4. More fleets are optimizing their routes to save money

“These days most major carriers are focusing on becoming more efficient and they are finding that the best was to do that is to more efficiently plan their routes and schedules. What many fleets are finding is that traditional methods of route planning do not address real-time events that impact businesses every day. To be competitive, fleets need to not only optimize routes, but also accommodate the random, short-notice requirements of their customers.”

3. Why aren’t you using your truck’s data to improve fuel economy?

“Chances are you’re not using the data from your numerous trucks to lessen the number of diesel gallons guzzled. That’s not just editor’s intuition—a recent report from Fleet Advantage stated that while 70% of industry professionals regularly monitor OBC data for driver logs and dispatching only 6% utilize it to gain insight on fuel consumption. Six percent. That was out of a 2,000 fleet sample size.”

2. It’s time to put a stop to brake-related CSA violations

“After citations related to lighting problems, brakes are the second most commonly penalized item—18.7% of violations handed out by the CVSA in 2014 were brake-related. We asked brake experts about common issues that lead to CSA violations, and how they can be prevented.”

In this article, Associate Editor Alex Crissey and the aforementioned brake experts delve into common brake issues, preventative maintenance tips, and the different advantages and problems presented by the increasingly popular air disc brakes.

1. FE crowns its 2016 Truck Trend of the Year

“This past year saw the introduction of new trucks, new proprietary integrated powertrain equipment—including the introduction of 2017 engines—and a huge leap forward in terms of truck technology and telematics. Yet the biggest equipment talking point this year was the piece of the equipment productivity puzzle that has the largest direct impact on the truck’s operational efficiency, and it isn’t just one piece of equipment. In fact, it’s not even equipment at all. It’s the driver.”